Drugs, dreadlocks and peace signs. The term hippie brings to life images of bellbottoms and drifters.
I admit, I had to look up the definition of a hippie prior to writing this article.
What follows are some phrases that jumped out to me during my research.
Hippies:
- Seek to free themselves from societal restrictions
- Choose their own way, and find new meaning in life
- Declare their willingness to question authority
- Distance themselves from the “straight” and “square” (i.e., conformist)
- Tend to travel light, and could pick up and go wherever
- Seldom worry whether they have money
Josh and I both come from the corporate world. I do worry about whether I have money in the bank and probably would be considered in the straight and square category to many. But the longer I travel and seek an independent lifestyle and am beginning to see myself in a different light.
Put us in a town like Montañita, Ecuador, known for its “special” bakery items and hammock lifestyle, and we’re the squarest squares there. But, if you place us in a cubicle and insist on 8 AM status meetings, we will stick out like Birkenstock-wearing hippies. Thus we coined the term: Corporate Hippies.
We question authority (and conformity), travel light and are working to free ourselves from societal restrictions when it comes to our 9 – 5 jobs. We are entrepreneurs. I am starting to think that there are many parallels between entrepreneurs and hippies. Someone who is choosing their own way and directing their own meaning for life. For now, I’m ok with being called a corporate hippie.
Leave a comment with why you think you are also a corporate hippie, living in a world somewhere in between wearing suits and growing dreadlocks.
Hi, just viewed your post and picture. Caroline, you basically look the same but I was surprised by the picture of Josh. He looks real tired and a little scrawny. Looks like he could use 2 weeks in Cancun!!!
Haha! I’m resting up and getting a haircut and then I’ll probably feel better. 🙂
I think my husband has always been on the corporate hippie track; after getting out of the air force he found ways to travel and travel and travel some more. I’m newer to the world of “corporate hippie” but after we tried to regular 9 to 5 life for a couple of years we decided to make a change.
Fortunately for us, we’d already been aiming for simplicity in our life which allowed us to pay off a couple of mortgages (both tiny compared to most Americans) and travel for a year. Our conversations about work and life now revolve around finding ways to continue to preserve our freedom and ability to move around even if it is not on the same scale as we’re experiencing now: the conclusion seems to be that entrepreneurship is the most expedient way so we’re thinking and scheming and planning for the future date when we settle down a bit.
We’ve tended to use the term “professional dirtbags” for ourselves instead of “corporate hippie” but we certainly fit the bullet points your research turned up.
I love the term “professional dirtbags”! We have the same conversations as you about how to continue (on a smaller scale) the life and freedom we’ve grown accustomed to.
Currently in Montanita and I think I too am a Corporate Hippie!
Ha! Right! Depending the crowd I feel super corporate or totally hippie! 🙂 Our favorite restaurant in Montanita is next door to Charo’s Hostal, small hole in the wall that is always busy and super delicious. Get the almuerzo for $1!